NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - NFC South Love and Saints Camp with Cam Jordan, Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Justin Reid

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue are live from Saints training camp! The duo starts the show with a bit of news talking about the injury to Rashawn Slater and what it means for the Chargers (01:30). After the news, Gregg and Jourdan tell you why they love the NFC South (07:50). Then, Gregg is joined by Saints players including Cam Jordan (21:20), Justin Reid (31:10), Juwan Johnson (36:50) and Chris Olave (43:24).  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.

It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Welcome to NFL Daily, where cash money records is still and always in style. I'm Greg Rosenthal. I am here. at the University of California, Irvine, with my friend Jordan Rodrigue

to watch a Saints practice to talk about the NFC South and to just bathe in the New Orleans vibes, even though we're in Southern California. I know, it could not be a more perfect day. You've already almost hit me with your hand twice. A gorgeous weather out here, ready to watch some football, ready to do some football. I don't know why cash money popped in my head right there,

but I was in college during the rise of juvenile, like literally when 500 degrees came out and ha, and it was like being in Liverpool when the Beatles came out. In case you did not know, because he hasn't said it 16,000 times. Greg went to Tulane for

college. Let's talk news, unfortunately. So the setup for this show is going to be fun. We're going to talk a little bit of news. I wasn't going to, but unfortunately we have to. Then we're going to talk about why I love the NFC South more than you.

Why, no, no, why I love the NFC South more than you. Okay, we just be clear on that. Maybe just why it's disrespected and it deserves its respect. And also why I love it more than Greg. And then we're going to have a number of interviews with some fun Saints players, Chris Oliva, Cam Jordan's coming on, Justin Reed, and Joanne Johnson. So looking forward to all those. But unfortunately, we've got to start with the Los Angeles Chargers who found out on Thursday

that Rashon Slater, their great left tackle. who just signed a market-setting contract just a couple of weeks ago is lost for the season with a torn Patelotendant and this whole idea, this off-season, that they were going to do a better job protecting Justin Herber. Unfortunately, you know, goes down at training camp practice with their very best player, Rashan Slater. Basically, the item of news that you just don't want to hear this time of year.

It's so tough because not only, I was down, there a few days ago at Chargers Camp and the cohesiveness of the group, the way that they all were communicating, the size of the group. I mean, this was, this is a team that looks as badass as it expects to be this year and to lose him, the cornerstone of your offensive line, the person who is so well loved by teammates on both sides of the ball by his quarterback. It's heartbreaking. You hate, that's like the number one thing you hate to see this time of year. I've tried to even say it on the show, but it's been in my mind the last two weeks that it's been a quiet camp for players suffering serious injuries, especially, you know, big-time players like Rashan Slater.

So what do the Chargers do here? You know, they said what they felt about him and where he is in the NFL ecosystem with a contract that they gave him. He's in the top five left tackles in the entire league. They have Joe Alt, their first round pick from a year ago. When Slater was out of practice earlier in camp. Joe Alt was flipping to the left side on ESPN.com. You know, their beat reporter does believe that that's the move that they will make going into the season. Joe Alt goes to the left side. Trey Pipkins, who's played a lot for the chargers over the years. Now is a swing tackle is likely to be the right tackle. And then I look at the interior line where this whole Zion Johnson experiment at center is over. He didn't

get that job. He's at guard. And I just think, Beckton is there now. He is. So that's different, but obviously without Slater, it just feels like... It's deflating, Greg. I mean, it really is. And we're just back to where... Hasn't this happen? Like, I feel like something like this happens every Chargers off season before it even starts to get you in this mood and especially up front and now it just feels like, oh,

we're just running it back and it might be even worse. And I will say, I'm not ready to go there yet. I want to say, I mean, this is obviously horrible news. I hate this for the Chargers. I hate this for their fans. I hate this for Herbert and for Harbaugh. The thing is, though, is that Jim Harbaugh took over this job and the expectation and the external narrative, whether he likes it or not, is that he is a fixer of culture, a fixer of coaching, somebody who's going to maximize every player on the roster. He's said as much or indicated as much.

He's going to maximize this passing game, this run game, get physical, be big, mean, and tough, and overwhelm opponents. Okay, so great coaching is what you do and how you develop talent in the instance of, the quote-unquote Chargers curse that we kind of see every year. And great coaching is making the most of what you have four or five weeks left till the regular season, try to figure out what you do next. So, okay, Jim Harbaugh, you're up. How do you coach out of this?

Right. And they do have Jamari Sawyer, who played pretty well in place of Ray Sean Slater a couple years ago when he was hurt and he's still on the roster. So they do have some options. When I say it's just more of the same, I think I'm voicing some of the Chargers fans' frustration that after their disaster,

of a playoff appearance where they blamed everything on the interior offensive line. They are kind of running back those same guys at center and left guard. And now, obviously, you couldn't have prevented this, but it's a lot of the same guys. Pipkins back in the mix, maybe Sawyer. And you're just worried. You want the best for Justin Herbert. You don't want to go into another year of coming up with excuses for him. So that's the Chargers.

One thing I know that Herbert's happy about, we never really hit on this on the show. The Keenan-A move became official since we last talk. He's getting $8 million, which is not nothing for a guy that is signing this time of year. Maybe he's a little duplicative of Bad Bacconchi. They say like they can both play on the outside. I don't think you really want Keenan Allen taking snaps on the outside over Keandre Lambert Smith, who he liked. But it's one more weapon, at least, that's there. You know, it's fun.

I will plug the great Daniel Jeremiah and the great show, 40s and free agents. The other day, he was bringing up the talk of these veteran receivers who will still dig out in the trenches, who will still grind to get that blocking surface, just different layers to it, how maybe you could pull it extra tight end up the field to get these guys involved in that structure. I don't know. I mean, DJ, he doesn't say things unless he knows things.

That's all I'm saying. Okay. So you got a little Keenan Allen in a role like that where he's almost like another tight end on the field. And you know what? When DJ speaks, I listen. I kind of tune you out on those episodes, but when he speaks, I listen.

We will have the AFC West coming up soon in your feed. So check it out because he's got a great bit related to Gino Smith. All right, I'll just fly through the rest of the news. Then we'll get to our NFC South big conversation. Matthew Stafford is expected to be back at practice next week. So my panic about Matthew Stafford is lessened just a little bit. Although our insider Ian Rappaport reported that he got an epidural on his back recently, which not great. probably won't be part of the joint practices, said Sean McVeigh next week either,

but he will be on the field, so that's good. Michael Parsons was not on the field on Thursday, neither was Jerry Jones. So some sort of change happened there. That was interesting. Cam Hayward, we learned, of the Steelers, has not been practicing fully. A quiet holden there because he wants a contract adjustment. Ennis Rakestra of the Lions was put on injured reserve. Relatively high draft pick for them, but hasn't really played much.

But when a guy goes on injured reserve, that was going to make the team, I obviously want to mention it on the show. And then friend of the show, who was so nice to my son at the Super Bowl, Will Hernandez is back in the NFL on the Arizona Cardinals. And the mustache is mustashing. I will send out the picture, which is framed in Walker's room, because it's just such a nice picture of the two of them. All right, let's talk about the NFC South.

Which I love more than you. We're here. And, you know, we just had Tupac in the background. I don't know how loud this is going to be for the, audience, but it's definitely loud here. I think it adds a little something, something to our broadcast today. And obviously, Tupac's not, you know, like a southern rapper, but somehow it just feels like the energy is right here behind us for a division that I love with all my heart for so many

different reasons. You do too. I love it more. I guess I'll get started to give myself an advantage of it. We'll just go back and forth. Why we love it? Why wouldn't you get an advantage? Why it deserves consideration?

I think, like, the ultimate reason. is it's just a little grimeier than the rest of the divisions. These teams are kind of underdogs, maybe even in their own cities sometimes, not in New Orleans, but there's LSU there in Baton Rouge. They're in southern markets where college football is king. But I do love that regionally, the division is so close to each other. And I think because of that and the college football fandom that the rivalry, especially Falcon Saints, but I think it's all over the division, is more real and more meaningful between the fans than any other. And there's not a lot of Super Bowls to go around in this division.

The Falcons, I don't need to tell you about their heartbreak. The Panthers since they've come along have been good, but haven't gotten over the hump. The Saints got their one. The Bucks have had a couple. But it's like it's an underdog mentality and they hate each other. And that's why I've always loved the divisional matchups. And I think it's very intriguing. Well, first of all, I will point out that you sort of gave Patrick Claibon a pity pick

when you were talking on our NFC episode the other week about picking which division you wanted to do and you were shocked and astounded. I contain multitudes. You have so much nuance to you, Greg. So I will say I really do love the NFC South, unlike people who are sort of faking their passion for it. I love how chaotic it can get.

The bucks are, again, yet again, the favorite here. But anything could happen because anything often does happen. It's a good old-fashioned slap fight half the time between these teams, and they get so intense and so testy with each other. And just the unpredictable nature of how these NFC-South intra-division games can go is just fascinating to me. Right. The Bucks, there's a lot of talk about. Wow, the Bucks, I think they're underrated.

We've talked them up, but it's like, hey, they could win their fifth straight, right? NFC-South divisional title, which is amazing. But let's also calm down a little bit. Like, it's like last year they're sneaking in off a tiebreaker. One of the years they were eight and nine. This is not, this is not some dominant Peyton Manning in the cults in the middle of the aughts just beating up on the rest of the division. It is very even, usually in the end. And what I love about the NFC South, more than you, is that we're going to get points.

And that's the ultimate, that's going to be the ultimate, like, evening of all of these groups, is that every single one of these teams can score points. I'm looking through these different teams and sort of where they've improved or where they're staying highly productive. Bryce Young and the Panthers turned it around last season in a big way. Taking the Eagles down to the wire like that was one of the more impressive sort of underdog David and Goliath moments of last season. Atlanta's defense obviously is still a huge question mark, but their offense under year two of Zach Robinson as offensive coordinator with Mike Pennix, with this cast that they have along in their skill positions is literally, quite literally built to score. You know, the Saints, if whoever the quarterback is

can get the ball to the playmakers, and they do have playmakers. Receed Sheed, Chris Oliva, Alvin Camara, some exciting young guys we're going to talk about who are up and coming today as well. They should be able to put up points. And the Bucks are one of my favorite teams in the NFL, which is another reason why I love the NFC South

because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the NFC South. But also, they are quite literally built to score, quite literally built to score. And they've got depth that receiver, unlike we've seen in a long time in the league. Right. I watched quarterback and you almost forget those high-scoring Falcons Bucks games. Obviously, that Thursday night game was so memorable, but her cousin's going like over 500 yards and absolutely lighting up that that Bucks defense, which has been up and down, more down than up lately.

And that's why one of my reasons why I love this division this year is Boles of Sons too. So we had the IP years back. Todd Boles comes from the Jets. Was a tough time there. Comes to the Bucks. He has the Boles of Sons. it results eventually in a Super Bowl title. He stayed on. At that point, he's the coordinator.

Now he's the head coach. The reputations add a little bit of a lull. I think we get the Bowles of Sons too this year. He's got a fun group in the back end. A couple young players, rookies, Jacob Parrish, who they're really happy about Benjamin Morrison, who they drafted early. Tyke Smith is a second year nickel back.

You add Antoine Winfield to that. Jamel Dean's been there for a while. Like, we'll see. They have questions. And certainly at linebacker, they add Hassan Reddick. But I do think we get a little Bulls asans, too. And I like a fiery Todd Bowles. I like a fiery Bucks team.

Let's actually listen to Baker Mayfield talking about a little training camp fight. It's going to happen. Yeah, and our group's not going to back down. You guys shoving people late in the back. We're not going to back down. We're not going to start it because we're not stupid, but we'll finish it. How hard is it for you as a quarterback to say?

stay out of that. I mean, Tristan was coming out there. God, he still has a threat. He needs to stay his ass on the sideline with those crutches. Yeah, it was in the middle of it. It's fun. Oh my gosh. Baker Mayfield. By the way, Baker Mayfield, you will go start it. So don't try to act like, oh, well, we won't start fights. Baker will absolutely 100% start his fair share of fights. You know, I kind of was able to go around the league talking to different coaches and executives last year, Greg, as you know, you were such a champion of that. But then this year, too, kind of hearing the same types of things. When you ask, especially offensive coaches about Todd Bowles,

I do not care that he's like sort of from a different generation of coaches. I do not care that he runs things that we've seen him run for a long time. Every offensive coach in the league will tell you, it is so exhausting going against that man for an entire game. You can game plan for it. It still, it does not matter how prepared you are and how much you've seen of his tape. It is absolutely mentally and physically exhumated. exhausting to have to endear an entire game against that man.

Right. I might have like a little tongue in cheek when I talk about the Bulls and Sons too, but the reason I was so excited about is he's just a fun defensive coach to watch. And that can be a weakness of his almost like Greg Williams back with the Saints in the days. Even if he doesn't quite have the horses, he's just going to blitz like absolute crazy. Like that is his aggressive mindset no matter what. And I do think he has more of the horses this year. You mentioned Pennix.

And that's another one of the reasons why I. I do love the NFC South more than you. Oh, me too. More than you. That's impossible. You just said me too, more than you. Lefty quarterback, I'm left-handed. I have to love it more than you.

I've been trying to convince you of Mike Penix for a year. They're kind of the poor team's Packers. We went from Michael Vick straight to Matt Ryan. Now let's forget the Desmond Ritter, Kirk Cousins' seasons ever happened, but right to Michael Pennix. And to me, he is kind of similar to Jordan Love in a lot of ways in that he's going to be very aggressive deep down the field in that the sample size was so small that I don't want to draw too much from it. And there could be major ups, major downs. But I do think the

connection between Vic to Ryan to Pennix is something that's going to last this franchise. And it's cool to be there for the first year of what I think is going to be kind of the Michael Pennix era. I mean, I love it. I also don't want to make too much over some of the reported inaccuracy that Mike Pennix is having some of the frustration that he's having a little bit at training camp because according to my colleague, Josh Kendall at the athletic, they have, Zach Robinson has intentionally structured all 11 on 11 periods, no seven on sevens for Mike Penick. So none of that sort of flag football, get it to the skill players, types of guys. He's also designed the practice structure so that options that Mike Pennix would usually take

earlier in his reads are not there for him. So they're almost forcing him to go into an uncomfortable zone to get more reps in the shorter and intermediate areas of the field because we know he loves to throw the ball. ball down the field. I really love that they're stress testing him in a way that makes sense that is functional, that works with his development. And I really love hearing Leonard Floyd, who is one of my all-time favorite players to cover, say that Pennix is starting to come out of his shell. Like, he seems quiet, but he will trash talk, especially if he pops you on a throw. He will absolutely let you have it. And I love that Leonard Floyd's the one sort of calling him out on that. He's a guy that's

going to go for big-time throw. So just as an entertainment value, I think these games between the teams in this division are going to be pretty box office this year and it's partly because Bryce Young has a lot of that in him too. The best story last year was his comeback, his confidence comeback. And I loved it as a as like a narrative arc

and we'll hear from Dave Canales on that in a second of like how that happened. But the reason I'm more excited about him because it's not just that he's representing smaller gentlemen because in reality, like compared to a normal guy, he's just, he's average. I'm not going to say that he's like a small guy.

He's like 5'10. Compared to NFL players, he's small. But the reason I love watching him play is I don't think people realize watching him how many difficult, tight window, beautiful throws he goes for. And that's where he actually reminds me a little of some of my favorite quarterbacks, the anticipation that he can throw those outbreaking routes, like a Gino Smith, like a Philip Rivers. That's lofty company, but the types of throws that he makes are just beautiful football

throws. And that's one of the things I love about Bryce Young. And I think, first of all, I like how they've built their receivers room. I think that group will still have a ways to go and proving that they can kind of all click together and develop different layers in the passing game. But I like how they've built it out over the last couple of years. One of the things that I think doesn't get talked about enough and certainly didn't last year and definitely didn't, especially when they were struggling at left tackle a couple of years ago when Bryce first came out, this offensive line has come together. It is a top third offensive line. in the NFL. It played like it last year.

And they have things that they need to fix in the run game. But in terms of protecting and understanding where Bryce Young is and having some of the stalwart players, Austin Corbett, Taylor Morton, Taylor Moton on the right side, they are a group that is now used to playing together more. Ikea Kanwu is gaining confidence. That's all you're hearing from how we finished last year and then coming into this season. And if they can finally look like a veteran group together for Bryce Young. I think that goes miles for him this year.

And the camp reports for Tetero and McMillan, T-Mack. I don't know. There was a T-Mack. Kyle Brandt pointed that out. So I kind of like to say in the full name. That's what his mom wanted anyways, Tetero and McMillan. He's getting the volume of a number one receiver and looks like a number one receiver. Even though there's like some drops to me in a perfect world, he has a little T-O-2

where you can live with a few drops when you're that physically talented. I mentioned Canales talking about Bryce Young and the maturation. that he had. Remember, of course, Andy Dalton was starting games for the Panthers last year. I would say the biggest thing is that he continued to lead throughout that process. I think that he earned a lot of respect from his teammates, from me, that regardless of the situation, he didn't agree with me on the decision not to play him, but he worked and he kept leading. And he was showing me this is my team and he was showing his teammates you're my guys like and he would stay in front and he would touch him and talk to him and um and then came back in and then we started to grow

together and then building into that in the off season the leadership continued got a little something to him yeah i love it i had i had DJ's voice in my head i guess it's getting back to work with him when you said that they were a top third offensive line oh yeah you i hedged i'm learning so much from you. He got on me for building up Devante Adams and then saying top 15 receiver, which just isn't that dramatic. I mean, top third, 32 divided by three. That's like 11 or point three. I mean, coming from where the top 10 at that point, going from where the Panthers were a couple of years ago, I think they would take it in a heartbeat. I'm just giving you a note. I think just go top 10 at that point. Are you are you also? It'd be 10.666666. So this is this is how negative cycles

perpetuate, Greg. You were hurt. Now you hurt me. Hurt people. hurt people. I get it. Sometimes like a little bit of hurt is healthy. Think about that. That's the NFC South in a nutshell, baby! We will take a quick break. We are going to be back on the other end with the New Orleans Saints.

That's going to be me with a rapid fire bunch of interviews. Excited about that. And then Jordan is going to join me on the back. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL cover zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different.

Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you Get your podcast.

Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team-building philosophies,

coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision-makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.

If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL fantasy football podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL fantasy football podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet,

We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. All right, we are here with the outstanding defensive end of the New Orleans Saints. Cam Jordan, a man who is also a podcast host Off the Edge with NFL media. Cam, like, were your feelings heard it all

that the podcast group didn't go along in the ESPN package? I was going to say, I thought I was being absorbed as well. You know, my podcast sponsored by, you know, NFL Network and IHeart Radio. And I guess it's still sponsored by Infund Network and IHeart Radio. I don't... It is. I mean, it's in the press release.

Right. And it says, like, the NFL still owns a... I think that's a... a good thing. I think they think we're doing such a good job, Cam. They want to keep it going into the future. How has it been, by the way, being like a podcast host slash player? A podcast life has been wonderful the first couple of years when it was me and Mark and there was a tandem. You got to love a good duo, you know? Then when you go solo, it's not as fun when you're talking to yourself because now you're truly talking to yourself. Like, you know,

like at least if you live stream something, you've got a chat you're talking to. You've got your, You know, you got a Batman. You got a guess. Yeah, there's Batman and Robin, but, you know, Batman and Robin used to work together. Right. You know? Batman Nightwing.

I feel that. The whole thing is on your shoulder. If it doesn't go well... Guess whose fault it is? You can't really blame anyone. Can't blame anybody but yourself. No, you blame you producers. You fed me the wrong information.

You said seven-time pro-the-bola, not eight-time pro bowler. Gosh, darn it, Batman. No, we got the best in the business helping you, including Chris with bonus sometimes on the off-the-edge team. You guys look great out there today. It was a fun one. Saints defense. I know it wasn't like a heavy day of practice,

but that looked like a defense that's feeling themselves. That was like five team periods. I don't know. Okay. I appreciate it. You know, you got to, after me, I guess there's another guy who's in the podcast space as well. We're all just podcast family.

We got Joon Johnson. Juwan Johnson. Yes. Jew Shan. Shan Jew. Like tell me about how this defense feels different maybe than last year. like comparing and contract, it's just like a lot of different players, not in terms of the scheme and everything, but it is a lot of new players on this team. There's a lot of a lot. You know,

you bring in Justin Reed, you got Julian Blackman, that complete new backfield in the safety area, right? You have the surgeons of Kuley McKinstreeka heading to a second year. It looks like he's dialed in. Alante Taylor heading in what year four now? Love it right now. But man, and I'm a vocal leader, you can fill it on the field. Justin, Justin Reed came in with a commanding presence. Of course, you've got Pete Warner, DeMario Davis. I feel like Jalen Ford, as well as DeMarco Jackson, is having great camps.

We bring in, you know, now our D tackles, I think you can label them defensive ends or something like that. Whatever you want to label them. Just know, our D line is holked up. You know, guys are getting bigger, stronger. I mean, you're a big, big group. Yeah, yeah. Brandon Staley likes those big guys up front.

No doubt. He's got a type. Edge is 6-4 and above, you know. Carl Grannison, 6-5, Chase Young, 6-5, Cam Jordan is a short one of the bunch, 6-4. Gosh, darn it, Batman. Grand Gazzum. I'm like 5-5-6, so I don't need.

My dad married for love. Although I felt better watching your, Blake Groupie was like, he was closer to my side. Yeah, you don't see an NFL guy. He gives everybody hope. He's like, oh, that's a football player? No, he's a kicker. There's a difference.

You know, like. I can tell my son, though, it's not his fault, the genetics I can tell my son, like, look at that man. He's got a strong leg. You got a chance. Yeah, absolutely. So you've been in New Orleans forever. I have been a short-time resident in New Orleans. I went to college at Tulane, and I have a lot of love. Good old Tulane. Yeah, for the city. How has living in New Orleans this long changed you? Man, all my kids is from there. Remember wiped down the good old Magnolia? The five or four is special, man. Everything that I've wanted to accomplish.

happen there. You know, wildest dreams have been accomplished there. I've got one dream left and that's to win a Super Bowl. Because other than that, I've done it all. I've done done, done it all. It's been a blessing. Don't you feel like New Orleans is just a little different? So I think for people that haven't spent that time in New Orleans,

what do you think is different about playing there as a professional athlete living there than in different places? The fans live, breathe, eat football. They may know gap assignments. like when you think about we come from the west coast you go to the south we like football

on the west coast you know we like we appreciate athletics it's an event to go to no no no in the south we are they're looking forward to Sunday like the only reason they're happy about Friday is because Sunday's coming faster you know like it's who we play

they got their schedule down they've got the jerseys that they're going to wear two of the games they've got they've got their rituals of like what chips they eat before each drive There is a tradition in New Orleans, and it's nothing but the Saints. And when you're playing against this offense, then, and today, for sure, it was a good day for the defense, and that's what I've been reading. It's always a good day for the defense in my mind. Right.

Is there part of you that's almost like, all right, we got to bring this offense along too. We've got to bring these young quarterbacks along as a leader of this team. Through the fire. Through the fire. You know, your sharpest metals are repeatedly made from the fire. You forge it in the fire, you know, you're remelt and you do it again. There's a technique to that. I forget what it's called, but we're folding metal here.

Eventually it's going to sharpen up to where we're going to be a quite a fine blade against other people. You're asking the wrong guy. Although I did watch the reality show where they do the, where they're cooking with the fire and the art. I'm totally forgetting where they're bending the glass, like glass blowing. Those are some real artists. If you say so. There's some real people. Yeah, yeah.

I am not one of the martisans. I do not know. I just thought you might know that, a renaissance man. All right, wrapping up. Are you paying attention to your numbers? I'm thinking about that partly because Canton just happened. And I was thinking, okay, you know, someday at some point they'll be talking about your numbers and they'll be talking about the different numbers.

Do you pay attention to like your sack totals and all that different sort of stuff? Of course, in the off season. I've always said off season was a time to appreciate accolades. And in season, it's a time to appreciate getting after the quarterback. I'm right on the cusp. But, you know, I've seen, I've seen. in weaker hool of

Hall of Fame classes. I'm trying to be on the fence about like, hey, congratulations to everybody gets in. But I'm leaning on the, all right,

let's make it somewhere of a standard. If you're not, like, for me, linebackers, if you don't have to be tackles,

like, I'm like, hey, you know, like, he has to be greatness by longevity, not greatness by splash of. It depends how

splashy that splashes because like Sterling Sharp. Stirling Sharp, for instance, like, he was so amazing. Ring of honor. to guys that

in my mind you've got a minimum nine or 10 year threshold. If you didn't make the mark, I'm not going to lie to you. That's just how I feel. But at the same time, I'm not here to say that he's not worthy.

In my mind, I've always looked at the guys, the Chris Dolmans, the John Randalls. I've looked at guys who played 14, Michael Strahanes, Julius Peppers, Bruce Smiths, Reggie White's, guys played 10, 12, 14, 15 years.

And they were great for not only 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, 10 years. of greatness. I love it. You've got a standard like six, seven, eight, nine pro balls. Not, you know, like,

I don't want to hear, oh, he had three years where he was untouchable. All right, what was the other three years? If he hadn't been hurt and he didn't have, and he didn't have any.

Man, Sterling Sharp taking fire. It's not Sterling Sharp. He has to be him. His peak is so amazing that if you're that dominant, then you get a little extra grader. But I hear you. That you got to have a ball.

Definitely not talking about Sterling Sharp. There was a certain outside lines. linebacker edge type that may have gotten in some years back that I looked at and I said well I guess I'm already worthy well that you don't enter if you don't enter as a D-Lyam if you're if you're as an edge guy if you don't touch a hundred sacks now as an interior you drop that number by at least 30 people out there can do the research and find out who that is but yeah if I were you I would look at that and say that's only that's only gonna help uh

me in the long run do you pay attention though to your podcast numbers that's the Absolutely. I love my podcast numbers. I know all of them. No. I love the idea that I get to talk to my friends online. I get to share these experiences with the world. And in New Orleans, kids can listen to my podcast and not have to worry about what's going on. You know, they're like, man, I get reprimanded sometimes because it feels like New Orleans is such a familial place. They're like, Cam, my son, I heard you say, I said, oh, you know what? That is my fault. I do try and do better, you know? And I, I want to be somebody that everybody can look up to, but I do have a good time on a podcast. It's where you get to let down the hair. Well, he's going to be joining us someday, whether it's NFL media, whether it's ESPN. No doubt.

I'm going to continue to be. I appreciate you. Yeah, absolutely. Came Jordan. It has nothing to it with Sterling. Off the edge. But maybe it does, if it applies. No, I'm not trying to get you in trouble.

Shannon's going to call me like, you know you're talking about my big brother. No, we're not talking about your big brother. He's amazing. But if he's in, I think my dad might be in. Okay. I'm going to start rallying Steve Jordan for the Hall of Fame. Top 50 Minnesota Viking, Ring of Honor, electee, time to be in the Hall of Great.

And then we'll have a Hall of Fame. I don't know. Sometimes you wait like 25, 30 years, and then it happens. I don't like that. You know what? Either way, before I stick my foot in my mouth, everyone, you've been a blessed. Appreciate it, too. All right, we are here with Saints Safety.

Justin Reed, great to meet you, great to talk to you. you were saying, like, you felt like you barely even practiced today. Yeah, it felt like we only warmed up and it's already over. Well, it hasn't been like a, describe this training camp to me. Now you're out in California, a little different to Louisiana, but what was it like back there? Yeah, in Louisiana, it was like, honestly, it's about just building the culture. It was about building the dog mentality because when you get in heat index 115 day after day and you know what you're going to get when you walk out there, like you're sweating.

We did walkthroughs and your shirt's drenched by the end of a walkthrough. So practice was just about making sure, one, you prepare it. the right way, hydration-wise, if you're not hydrated, you don't stand a chance. And then just having that dog mentality, being a physical team, building camarader because we have a ton of new faces on this team. I think like two-thirds of the roster is new, and it's like continue to build. And you're one of them. And normally I would think, you know, you're coming in here year eight, right, for you?

You've been in the league, you've seen some things, and you'd become and you come over here, you'd be like the veteran leader guy on this team. But DeMario Davis has been in the league for 14 years. Cam Jordan's been on this team for 15. straight year. So what is it like joining a defense like that with that kind of leadership? What's the mix been like? I mean, it's been huge. I mean, we are not short of experience by any means, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And it's been cool that, you know, we have so much experience that we can bring to conversations talking about

ball, what we want to do here, what we want to do there, knowing problem plays that we've had from different systems that we played in the past and being able to talk it out before we even get it, you know? So I think that's really accelerated. us jelling together as a defense. Are you the one that's making a lot of the communication and the calls? I know it's a new defense with Brandon Staley. Does he give you that freedom from your position to change things up from the field? Yeah.

So, yeah, the back end, we were responsible for the back seven coverage-wise. And the linebackers are responsible for the front and what they want to do, pass rush rise and with the run defense and everything like that. So, Double D and Pete, they control the front seven. and me and Julian and Jay Howe, we control the back seven. And yeah, Julian Blackman, you're referring to who also just arrived here. And that's kind of an idea of like what a new team this is. And yet watching you out there, it felt like the defense, there's a lot of energy, there's a lot of cohesion right now.

There's a lot of trash talking from to Mario. He said he wanted us to write down that you guys didn't let them in the paint all day. Yeah. Yeah, that is a fact. You know, and it's really the way that Kellyn's built this group. He's been really intentional about doing team bonding events and building chemistry and making it a space where guys are close enough to challenge each other and talk trash to each other. You know what I mean?

And try and, you know, bring the breasts out of each other. So, been a ton of fun. And we don't take it easy on each other. We're out here to compete. We're not out here on vacation. And it's just about continuing to sharpen that steel. So we get ready to go on the field. What's something you can take from your,

experience, winning those Super Bowls, playing in the Super Bowls for the Chiefs? Number one thing is that it takes everybody. Like, I believe that wholeheartedly. It isn't just your front line first 11 guys that step on the field. At some point in the season, you're going to need somebody to step up, and they're going to need to make a play that's going to win or lose you the game. You know what I mean? You want every man to be prepared for that.

So overcommunication is never a bad thing. So overcommunicate everything. Be loud, be assertive. Even if you're wrong, if you're loud and assertive and everyone's doing the same thing, you know, you're going to be all right, but you just get rid of those busted plays and you'll be able to play good football. You've got to be right, though. You can't be assertive and wrong, right? I mean, being assertive, being assertive and wrong is 1,000% better than being quiet and not saying anything at all. Interesting. Yeah. Okay. I love hearing that. I'm

curious kind of what a Brandon's daily defense is like. It's obviously new for you here, but kind of what would you say the trademarks of what you guys are trying to get accomplished? Oh, he wants to want to play fast. He doesn't want any thinking. No thinking. He wants everyone. going to play fast. He wants it to be physical. He loves loading the box with the big guys up front and play a lot of five down, sometimes six down coverages. And those edge players are just, you know, out there to wreck havoc. And you got a lot of them. I was thinking, you know, you're a Louisiana guy. It just seems like it's a thing. Maybe I'm wrong. Honeybadger before you, but I feel like a lot of Louisiana guys end up back on the Saints. What is it? Yeah.

What is it with Louisiana with New Orleans that kind of made you want to come home? I mean, football, football is, everyone from Louisiana knows. Football is like close to religion down there. You know, everyone is going to know everyone's name that's on the field. And you know what's crazy is when you get drafted and you go through the process in my seven years, like it's not a thought that crosses your mind until the opportunity presents itself. And it's like you start thinking back and it's like when you're watching that 2009 Super Bowl and it's like what that did for the entire state.

And, you know, I have friends back home that dedicated entire enshrimates, like a whole room to that moment. You know, and then, you know, you get the opportunity to do it, and you think about those moments, and it's just such a cool opportunity. You must have been at the age where you were enjoying that. Where did you watch that Super Bowl? At home, probably at my uncle Kevin's house. We have a family get-togethers of 60-plus people.

Yeah, and all of them, no ball. My mom is probably the biggest football fan in the family. Okay. Yeah. That's some Louisiana stuff, some New Orleans stuff, and a defense-led Saints team. That's kind of turning it back to the old. Saints back when I was younger. Justin Reed appreciate having you. Absolutely.

All right, here with the veteran tight end of the New Orleans Saints, Joanne Johnson. Are you a veteran? I feel like when you get the next contract, you are a veteran. I was just about to say, you just called me a veteran. That just made me feel so weird. But I feel like the difference between a veteran and not. And you can tell me, if not, is when you get that nice second contract. That's the moment. Uh, yeah, you can say that. I mean, I feel like it's everybody's opinion. I feel like he's always rejected what a veteran is. I feel like after like you've been through a couple of coaches,

it could be that year five after year five maybe, you know. I feel like when you're getting up a little early and you're just like, man, I don't know about this one today. I think you could be considered a vet then, but I feel like, you know, sometimes a little bit different just depending on the person. But yeah, it's just weird. Did you call me a vet?

I mean, I just never thought about it. I think so, too, because it stuck up on me when you sign that contract this off season. I guess I was like, okay, I guess he's been in the league that long. I think of you as a young player, too. Were you, I don't know if surprise is the right word, but did you expect to come back to New Orleans? Honestly, no, and yes.

Long story, sure, I was waiting for the Saints for a really long time. Like, man, I want to be back, but you guys haven't talked to me in so long. And then, yeah, like right before stuff was about going to things, we had a conversation, and they extended me, and I was super excited. So me and my wife, we were just really excited to be back. My kids are here. Um, my foundation is here. Um, I have a great community here. Oh, we appreciate you, Keel. Um, honestly, we just have so much here in New Orleans. And, um, we just want to continue to build, uh, with this community. And honestly, I want to build this franchise. So that's what I really wanted to do. And I want to stick with them. What is that with contracts and like bosses and corporations? They always, they always do wait until the last minute. Yeah, I mean, it's not like you're going in. Like, any other job, be like, I want to raise. Like, you're not going in and saying that. You know, I was just kind of being impatient about the situation. And, um, I think they saw the value in me, and I definitely saw the value in staying.

And, you know, I really just wanted to be with the franchise. And obviously, I see what Callan is doing and what he did before and did in Philly, did the charges, did the Cowboys. He has a long rap sheet. It's great. And obviously, you know, being with Ms. Benson and being with Mickey Loomis and all those guys and Dennis Laoshe, I feel like it was just so good. And I've had such a good relationship with them.

I just want to continue that. Yeah, I heard the scrimmage the other day was 126 plays. So is that been an emphasis? like you're getting a lot of working in a short amount of time? Yeah, I mean, it was a surprise. I mean, honestly, you know, when you look at the clock over there, you're like, man, I think we're supposed to be done at 11, and it's 11.30. You're just like, whoa, we've been out here for quite a bit.

You see guys shoes swishing and junk, and, you know, the pants are all soaked. It's just like, she, we're out here for a minute. But it's some work that we need. I feel like, you know, Kelly's been really good with taking care of our bodies, and I think it is good to kind of simulate a game. And I think that's something he's been really good about It's kind of like simulating game-like situations I took it as meaningful when I read that

Little story that he had you guys watching the Indiana Pacers A little bit Talking about Pacey that you think this is going to be like a fast offense Yeah, well you have to I mean yeah think about it like Pacers only have one one superstar if you want to call him a superstar And so you know them just having like He's a superstar We're gonna go back and let it get that

I'm just saying some people may not I think he is some people may not I tell you what the dream team didn't I mean, that's all I'm saying. They didn't even play the guy. I mean, they didn't think my guy Jason Tatum was a superstar. That's very true, which I'm kind of frustrated about. But besides the point, I mean, I think just having a fast-paced offense,

something that gets to the defense when it's something that is definitely a change-up. You know, we have a change-up. We have a curveball, and we have like a soap-paced situation too. So it's always good to, like, keep the defense on the hills and not know what they're, well, not knowing what we're going to expect. So you're figuring out who your starting quarterback is going to be, Tyler Shuck I thought had some moments out there today Spencer Rattler you had your guys on the move

certainly I guess just like what have you seen out of your group including Jake Hainer this camp yeah I mean honestly the one thing that I take about is that all of them are so supportive and the thing is like I feel like in situations you can kind of get like kind of like a vibe from you know each guy they just like they just don't like seeing each other succeed

and that's not something that I've peeped at all from even the beginning of us even draft and Tyler And so all the guys have been super supportive, super helpful. They even coach each other up. And I think that's been the biggest thing about it all is that a leader is going to be out of this group, whoever it is. Like whatever guy you want to have, he's going to be a leader. And honestly, that's what you need. And whoever we have, whether that's Jake, Tyler or Spencer.

I mean, you should be really excited on who we're going to get. I won't make you call out any former situations, but I've definitely heard Red, seeing many a quarterback room where they were not supporting each other. Well, yeah, we've heard some that said that, you know, he's not there to, you know, with coach other people. And, you know, and that's fair because he's also a fellow Jersey guy, so I won't say his name. But I think he's just like a tough, yeah, Joe Flacco, you're talking about. I think he just sounds like he's gruff and he's being honest.

Actually, he's good behind the scenes. But back in the day, you did hear and read and see that him and Lamar, maybe when he was at a different point of his career, it maybe wasn't as cool. Before, before I let you go, you got this weighted shirt on. You said, you know, now you're a veteran, it's tougher to get out of bed in the morning and stuff. You're making it tougher to practice with the way of the shirt. It's something about adversity that you got to have. And so, you know, I just throw in a little bit more weight. Just, you know, I have a little bit more restriction when you're playing out there.

I mean, I feel like, you know, it's kind of like a mindset thing. You know, people ask like, oh, you have what, five pounds? I'm like, yeah. I mean, it's just a mindset. You know, you really don't feel you just go out there. You're playing and then you take your shirt off and then you feel like you're like 10 pounds, 10 pounds lighter. So that was kind of more. But what if you like, I don't know, you probably aren't reading like camp reports or anything like that.

But what if they were like, well, Joanne Johnson was like looking a little, you know, like a little slower today. Like a little five pounds heavier today, something like that. Right. Honestly, you know, I don't really read it at. But I will say this. If somebody came up and asked me, I'm like, well, hey, if I'm a little slower, maybe I need to work on getting a little faster. And I also have this one. So, I mean, on game day, it'll look a little different.

And I think that's probably what matters. Right. It's like, it's like that donut on your baseball bat when you're out there. When you're out there and you're like warming up and you're like on deck, you got the little donut swinging and stuff. And then when you go out there, hit a grand slam, whatever the case may be, nobody has any questions. It is the veteran, but he looks fresh and you can check him out.

This season, this preseason, Johnston, appreciate you. Absolutely appreciate you, man. Here with Chris Olive, the talented young Saints receiver. A perfectionist, you weren't pleased with your practice today as you were coming over here. Oh, yeah, man. It was his first day out here. got high standard for myself, but we're going to bounce back tomorrow. Tough matchups, though.

Cool, Kool-Aid McKinistry, Alante Taylor. I saw on you different points today. What's it like been going up against those days? It's a competition, man. They're great cornerbacks. We go against each other every day. Iron, sharp as iron. We've been doing that all in Kemp, so they win some.

I win some, but at the end of the day, it's a great competition. Do you like all the talking they're doing? I love it. They're doing a lot. Do you do a lot of talking? When I need to. I don't start it, but if they talk to me, I'll talk back. Okay. When I think of Chris Olavi, like I remember when you came out in the draft and your route running and your ability to stop on a dime with some of those stop routes

and just be so precise in that. How did you get that to be like one of your strengths? And would you agree that's one of your strengths? Just repetition every day, especially going into college at Ohio State. line taught us a lot from our early age once I got there at 18 years old we learned I learned that for three four years learning from him and the receiver room just being so deep having that competition watching everybody else work it made me just work even harder so just like I said just having that from 18 years old and trying to sharpen it every year getting into the league was an easy transition for me was there someone you liked watching while you were back in college

to kind of learn the craft it was really a lot of really everybody was good in the room. Terry McLuhan, Paris Campbell, all the older guys that was in front of me. I just watched him my freshman year and then try to work on my craft every day. I try to perfect my craft. So when my time came, I was the best I could be. You're now with Rashid Jihad, like a lot of pop for him, this training camp. What have you seen out of him and his growth and how you guys are going to play together? He's great, man. Once I saw him come in or Ricky year, I think he was injured at first, but I've seen him working off to the I've seen he had potential to be what he could be in every year, seeing him develop until a complete receiver.

I'm excited for him, man, and he's humble as a person, and I can't wait to see what he does this year. It's the sky's the limit for him. So, you know, I asked one of my friends who's a Saints fan, like, oh, what should I ask some of these guys? You got anything you want? And he want to know, like, how does a Kellyn Moore offense help you, help Chris Olavi? Like, what is it new or different and how this offense is structured? that you think can help out your game. Man, he puts the players in great positions,

so it's not really a scheme. He puts the players in great positions to win. He knows what we're good at. He knows what we're great at. And he puts us in that position to be able to win on the field. So he looks at matchups. He looks at every part of the game

to have us succeed. And like I said, he puts us in great positions to be able to win. So I'm excited for this year and what he provides for us. Offensively, it's a big change for this team. You know, you were in a certain sort of scheme, and there was continuity in terms of the coaches that were there, your offensive coordinator. Like, what is this new season been like for you?

Like, what have you felt and been different? Could be anything. Could be the scheme, or it could be the way you're attacking training camp, like the vibe of the team, anything that you feel like it's different. Just from top to bottom, man, it's a whole different vibe, whole different energy. I love the energy around a building. I love the energy the coaches bring from the top to the bottom. Like I said, Kellan's done a great job and bringing everybody with him. he brought everybody a lot of people from Philadelphia they just won a Super Bowl so like I said

just from the top to the bottom the vibes and energy everybody's bought in the chemistry I'm on the team is great so I'm excited for the future but the season's going to be great I feel like the saints are not getting as much attention maybe nationally so the people out there you know getting ready for this season you think they're going to be wrong tell them why they are going to be wrong if you think that oh man we're not worried about the outside world man we just focus on ourselves. Like I said, we got a great, great roster on paper. We just got to keep building every day, build the chemistry along the team. So when we get in those hard parts of the season, we've got to lean on each other. And like I said, we develop that bond, that chemistry right now.

So when we get there, we're ready for that moment. Appreciate you. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints. All right, we are wrapping up our day at UC Irvine with the New Orleans Saints. Appreciate all the players coming on. That was awesome. Jordan, while I was talking to the players, you were doing some interviews for a future must-read piece to be named later. So I'm looking forward to that. But we did watch practice together and, you know, we've had ourselves in a Saints mindset. So I guess before we go, and I'm curious, like, what stood out to you? What are you thinking about with this team?

Yeah. I mean, energy from the defense. You know, I thought that the quarterbacks actually had a decent day. There wasn't a lot of team periods today by nature. of the beat riders were telling us that they're structuring practices a little bit different under Kellynne Moore. So today may be less of a full-on-team period, 11-on-11 workload, but they did get some short area work in 11-on-11. And the energy from the defense, DeMario Davis at one point, came over to the sideline and said, they're hoping and wishing after a breakup in the end zone. They're hoping

and wishing and then said, write that. They didn't touch the paint all day. So I'm going to share it because he said, he said I could, you know. He told us to. Yeah. He would, he would, he was fired up. He's jumping up and down and... This defense looks legit. The energy is there. The communication, the nonverbal communication is watching with the secondary because this is a Brandon's daily defense. And one thing I learned way back when in watching a defense coordinated by him is you have to watch the nonverbals, the hand signals, and that sort of ripple effective communication across the back half of the defense. And that is very much there. Right. They were using Danny Stutzman, the rookie who's

reportedly had a nice camp. They've drafted well at that position. I was going to say if someone has some stuff to him on this deal. Daddy Stutzman, got some stuff to him. He's got some stuff. And he was getting the first team snaps because DeMario Davis wasn't in there today, which is why maybe he was so vocal. And you look around the defense and you do see productive players in the past.

You see a good mix of youth. And it can be a better than average defense. It's going to need to be a. a renaissance season for your boy, Brandon Staley. Yeah, I think so. And I think it's going to be interesting. I like the partnership with him and Kellyn Moore.

There seems to be they were communicating a lot. There seems to be a good sort of, hey, let's go out there and compete with each other because they're really building this thing, combining a lot of older guys with some very, very new pieces and then also such uncertainty still at quarterback. And so they're kind of just like building this, mismatch of ecosystems together.

And so you need to go out there and compete the way that we saw it today. And I thought, honestly, I thought the quarterbacks, even though nobody scored, credit to the defense, in terms of getting to their reads, getting the ball out, overall, decent day, it looked like from the three rotating guys. I feel like there was one score. It wasn't there. There also was, you know, the officials kind of gave. It dropped.

They dropped it. On a scrant, yeah, on a tip pass, there was a drop pass in the end zone. The quarterbacks were scrambling a lot. I saw more option plays than I would have expected with Tyler Shuck running it, with Spencer Rattler was on the move for much of the day. Jay Caner was holding onto the ball maybe a little too long in scrambling around. There was a lot of scrambling around, and that's the flip side of saying the defense looks so good. It's like, okay, what is real there and what is them playing an offense that's not totally ready yet?

And that's where I do look at the way they're communicating. I don't necessarily, when I say they had the energy and they looked really solid, it's like, it's not like, oh, because they were making plays against an offense that's still figuring out what it is. The reason I say that is because that communication already seems very advanced relative to having a new coach, entirely new coaching staff coming in and running this system. And I think that's what really stood out to me is that the chatter, yes, was there amongst each other and that calms together. But the nonverbal stuff, like I said, all I do when I come out here and watch any coach from this system, their defense, I watch the hand signals. And that's

very much what was happening today. And they have a lot of smart players. You know, we talked to Justin Reed and they brought in Julian. One of my favorite players, by the way, for a long time. And yeah, yeah, you just think of like, I'm so jealous. You guys to talk to him. The know how in this group. I'm glad you're jealous. It's good to make you feel jealous every once in a while. Also, you're talking to some of the, some of the beat writers that are covering the team and then talking a little bit with the players here too. Look, look, I think if this offense is better than expected and by that I would mean like like look if they finish the year 22nd let's say in DVOA and they're just respectable enough and a defense really plays better than people are like to

to the saints I think that is their path to relevance it's going to be because of their running game which actually today I thought looked pretty good they haven't been reping the running game apparently in practice all that much but today they did it was kind of a special teams and running game and I thought it looked good it's a just a sight for sore eyes to see that those Alvin Camara stutter steps and just how cool he still got it natural a mover he is gliding through the hole and I thought he looked awesome a year ago I think Kendra Miller is an X factor for this team because he's just given them nothing and the coaching staff is on him to stay on the field and he is the healthiest that he has ever been and so if he can give them a second

explosive player in that backfield with Camara to me he is pretty clearly going to be the two, but he has to stay healthy because they just need juice. The thing you worry about a little bit, and they are built to run up front in terms of their offensive line is just, they just got a lot of like smaller fast guys. It's not a big group in terms of the fast guys. He had a move today where I really saw, because I haven't seen a ton of him, but I really saw his patience as a runner where his first block got closed off, but his first gap got closed off by the defense.

And he hesitated just long enough, but he didn't hesitate in the way where he was moving backwards. He was almost moving sort of sideways through the air. And then he cut to the other side and he found a new crease. And I just thought, okay, that guy's got something there. Like, keep doing that. You know, hopefully your first gaps open. But the elusiveness and the patience and seeing what's available to him, you did see a little something there. Natural mover. And he caught a touchdown. That's why I'm a little confused. Maybe it was seven on sevens when he caught a touchdown. But he definitely caught a touchdown today. During 11s, I'm going to go with DeMario on it. It was probably seven on seven.

when they scored that touchdown. So, yeah, looking at the Saints, we're going to check them out. Me and my son, we're going to be in the crowd on Sunday. And we love the NFC South, by the way. We do. We'll see. Obviously, like, I was here last training camp,

and they were trying to, like, talk themselves up, and I was like, this team seems doomed. I think this year, they're trying to talk themselves up, and I do feel like a little better about it, that it can be a nice start. And if they, there is a path for them to go five and 12, and it'd actually be like a positive season. It's tough as an NFL fan to go into a season like that.

But I think if they have a young developmental season and get the right mix of their young players getting better, that could be better. I think they're going to be a tough team to play, honestly, because I do think that, yes, their record may or may not be what it is. We are all very realistic about this team and kind of where it's at and some of the places they really have to rebuild. If you don't have the answer at quarterback,

you have a long way to go still. But they're going to be a tough team. to smother, they're going to be a tough team to kind of beat down the way that we saw near the end of the season last year. A lot of beef, a beef on that defense. They seem just like tired and just ready to just come on. Like, let's just get some energy back in here. And I, it is training camp, but I really felt that energy today.

And there's no fans here. So even having that self-manifested, like making that yourself, not relying on people being in the crowd cheering you on to do it, like that says something to me too. Yeah. And on the Tyler Shuck, is he getting rid of the ball watch? I thought that was okay today. There was like two plays where he held onto it a little too much. He had you in the first half. You can't lie. But he looked good near the end of the practice. First couple snaps, he was doing the thing where he's holding onto the ball too much. But they actually moved the ball. I didn't think they looked bad. It was just the second they got close to scoring a touchdown. It stopped. All right, we are going to stop. Now, that was it for this show. We will be updating you on all the injury situations around the league. We are aware of the Anthony Richardson. Pinky situation, but we don't know what it's going to be. He took a hit where he was just no situational awareness and a bad job by the blocking there in Indianapolis. So we'll see if that's serious.

We'll see if the Chauncey Gardner-Johnson injury in Houston is serious. One of my favorite players, he was carded off of practice today. But we'll update all that when we are back with you Sunday night, recapping all the preseason takeaways. You will next hear in this feed, 40s and free agents, though, being dated and Jeremiah. Yeah, I hear, by the way, I mentioned it earlier. really good Greg roast in that episode. DJ told me.

Every time. I mean, you should say it. Talk about like a competition. You should be feeling the heat from DJ. And people are going to like those shows better. You got to watch out. Football's back. Hey, everybody.

Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends. and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday.

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